Public to get look at changes coming to Columbia Street

People packed into a small meeting room in February to see the preliminary plans for the work planned on Columbia Street. The final construction plans will be presented this week.

(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

November 25, 2014 - 10:29 AM

CONSTRUCTION SET TO START SUMMER 2015

KAMLOOPS - It is a construction project that got a lot of people talking when it was first unveiled and this week the public will get another chance to take a look at the planned changes for Columbia Street before the project begins next summer.

In February the city hosted an open house to get feedback from the community on the tentative plans. After several months of looking at the input, budgets and technical requirements a final reconstruction plan has been created.

The $3.8 million project will add turning lanes at 3 Avenue, 4 Avenue, 5 Avenue and 6 Avenue as well as a new raised centre medians. A sidewalk will be added on the south side connecting 3 Avenue and 4 Avenue (in front of the hospital), a bus pullout will be added and traffic and pedestrian signals will be improved. Repaving, street light improvements and enhanced landscaping is also planned.

One of the biggest concerns, turning left on 2 Avenue, will be eliminated with the addition of the raised centre medians, which will eliminate left hand turns on or off of the street. All driveways from 3 Avenue to 6 Avenue will also become right-in right-out only.

OPINION At least part of me wasn’t sure I should write this, given what happened last time. It was August 15, 2003 and like many Thursdays before it, I was scratching around for a column idea. The summer newsroom